The last couple of years have been rough for Taffs Well. Let’s be honest the club has been a bit of basket case when it comes to competitive senior football. Managers and players have come and gone like the shifting of the weather. In fact there have been too many managers, probably 8 or 9 if you include caretaker roles. It got to the point where the resumption of the club’s membership in the third tier of Welsh football for the first time since 2004 looked inevitable (and it’s still a possibility).
This has all come in the midst of a few ground-breaking years for the club. Three times they have hosted lucrative friendlies with English Football League side Cardiff City, attracting thousands of fans to Rhiw’r Ddar for those moneyspinners. As a result, Taffs Well have been able to launch what I presume, due to FAW funding rules, is an entirely self-funded academy to compliment an already strong youth team set-up.
But the senior side has been sliding backwards.
The appointment of Lawrence Badman as Steve Williams’ successor (sacked last November) in January has seen a recent upturn in results. Following 10 defeats in the previous 11 matches, The Wellmen have hit back with 7 points from their last three fixtures. Whether this is a familiar jolt of forward momentum amidst the decline or truly the start of a turnaround remains to be seen.
I watched them lose 6-0 at Pontypridd Town last month and as that result would suggest they absolutely dreadful that night. It couldn’t have been easier for Pontypridd and Taffs Well couldn’t have done any more to make the Cymru South nomads look better. Something has definitely changed between then and now because in this Cymru South encounter against Undy Athletic there was at least some work-rate and desire from the Taffs Well players to give the side a platform from which to play. There wasn’t very much of that at USW 3-4 weeks ago.
One thing Taffs Well have had to deal with, as well as the upheaval in the dugouts, is a loss of some experienced players. The likes of Jason Bertorelli, Jacob Isaacs and Jack Fox have all departed over the winter, and while a few familiar veterans remain or have joined, there seems to have been a move towards bringing through and into the first team younger, hungrier players with something to prove. You cannot judge the entire picture from one look but it was noticeable in this game the prominence of four young players in this improved display.
Anyone who has been following the Cymru South/Welsh League division one for the last 12 months or so will be aware of Jordan Carey. The 20-year-old attacker broke into the side last season and has been practically ever-present since. His physical stature may be slight but his presence on the pitch is large. His energy is relentless and should be infectious among his team-mates but he possesses real quality to go with it. Impressive though is his mentality; despite his lack of experience he never gets himself down about mistakes, always looking to be involved and take responsibility in the game. I suspect already there are several clubs watching him.
Dylan Jones (18) is another great hope for The Wellmen. A very talented ball-player with very good technical ability and the ability to create time on the ball; I’ve heard some at Rhiw’r Ddar are even more excited by his potential than Carey’s. Carey and Jones were complimented by two other stand-out young players on the night: Thomas Gameson (22) and Liam Martin (20). Gameson has arrived from Aberbargoed Buds I believe, has very good feet and a big personality on the pitch. Martin, before being sent-off, looked a very composed figure and another player with good ability on the ball, as you might expect from a player that has previously been involved with Bristol City’s academy.
On the night, Taffs Well definitely merited the win against an Undy side that is always well-organised and competitive at this level. The Wellmen dominated most of the play from the off with Undy always looking most likely to threaten from mistakes and counter-attacks.
Carey was involved in practically all of Taffs Well’s best moments in the first half and probably should have done better with a couple of opportunities that came his way. Undy came closest though in a goalless first half, a drive from midfield beating Cael Jones but hit the top of the crossbar.
When Martin was sent-off early in the second half for a poor tackle it looked like the game might swing the way of the visitors, but Cymru Premier ref Gavin Townsend flashed his red card again within 90 seconds, showing a straight red to Undy’s Rhys Aherne, presumably for what was deemed another dangerous tackle.
With parity restored in terms of personnel and more space on the field, Taffs Well went on to secure the win. Carey scoring first from the penalty spot before Richard French scored with a close range header to seal the points. An excellently struck free-kick from Ollie Smith (another talented young player at this level) in injury time threatened a late comeback but there was little time for Undy to mount any pressure so the points, deservedly, went to the home side and took them out of the potential relegation places.
Match Notes
11.2.2020
Taffs Well 2-1 Undy Athletic
(Jordan Carey 70′ pen, Richard French 89′; Ollie Smith 90+2′)
JD Cymru South
Rhiw’r Ddar, Taffs Well
Attendance: 55 (approx) | Entry: £5
Jordan Forster 